There's a lot of drama unfolding at 149 First Ave. just north of East Ninth Street.
All tenants (and all rent stabilized) received the following letter from the landlord this week — a "notice of non-renewal and vacate request."
"We have been advised by our engineer that the building has serious deterioration issues and has to be rebuilt and most probably demolished.
"As a matter of safety, we have to vacate all the apartments in the building."
And it doesn't matter how long the tenant has left on his or her lease — "please do not take longer than 90 days to leave. Thank you."
There's nothing on file with the DOB about either a gut renovation or probable demolition. The most serious recent infraction appears to be that the landlord failed to file an annual boiler inspection report for 2012.
It appears that tenants aren't ready to pack their bags. They are already organizing, as this notice on the front door shows.
Meanwhile, if the building is truly going to be gut renovated/condemned/demolished, etc., then the landlord likely not need bother trying to fill the vacated storefront, still on the market for $9,500 rent per month since This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef closed in March.
Updated 2:31
Now with an updated flyer showing the correct date for the meeting with tenants.